THIRD WORLD NETWORK BIOSAFETY INFORMATION SERVICE

18 May 2005
  
  
Dear Friends and colleagues,

RE:  ZAMBIA BUILDS GMO DETECTION LAB

Zambia, a country that has decided to remain free of genetically modified seeds and food, has taken the initiative to build a molecular biology laboratory to detect GMOs entering the country.
  
Expected to be completed in December, the laboratory is being built to "safeguard Zambians' health and maintain a sustainable environment." This is a collaborative effort between Zambia's National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) and the Norwegian government.  The Norwegian Institute of Gene Ecology will cooperate in research with, and training of, Zambian scientists with the University of Zambia.

The laboratory, research and training are part of a five-year strategy for national biosafety and biotechnology, launched byb the Zambian government in 2003, which included the drafting of biosafety legislation.

Such a move is lauded and it is hoped that more countries especially in the developing world, will follow suit as they develop their capacities to deal with GMOs.
 
  
With best wishes,
  
Chee Yoke Heong
Third World Network
121-S Jalan Utama
10450 Penang
Malaysia
Email: twnet@po.jaring.my
Website: www.twnside.org.sg 
  

  
REF: Doc.TWN/Biosafety/2005/J
  
Zambia builds high-tech lab to detect GM food imports
Talent Ngandwe
13 May 2005
Source: SciDev.Net

[LUSAKA] Zambia has begun building a modern molecular biology laboratory to detect genetically modified (GM) organisms entering the country.

The National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) began the project last month. It is expected to finish by December. The Norwegian government has donated US$330,000 for buying equipment and training scientists.

Despite Zambia experiencing its third severe drought since 2000, the government is sticking to its decision to ban GM food imports (see As drought takes hold, Zambia's door stays shut to GM on SciDev. Net).

Michelle Nganga, head of research and development at NISIR told Times of Zambia last week (6 May) the new laboratory is being built to safeguard Zambians' health and maintain a sustainable environment.

In 2003 the Zambian government launched a five-year strategy for national biosafety and biotechnology. As part of this, the Zambian government drafted biosafety legislation to increase its technological infrastructure to 'protect' people from consuming GM food.

Director of NISIR, Mwananyanda Lewanika, told SciDev. Net that the new laboratory would be responsible for identifying GM organisms, since the virology laboratory at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) has no molecular biology facility.

The goal is to have the new facility accredited as a regional and national referral laboratory that will provide research and training in collaboration with the University of Zambia and the Norwegian Institute of Gene Ecology. The University of Zambia will arrange for student placements in GM research, while the Norwegian Institute of Gene ecology will use scientist exchange programmes to help in training and research.